No really, my creative, studious, intellectually absorbed, hard working friend.
STOP and nourish your brain!
When I was studying for my MFT licensure exams, I took an online prep course. I chose this course because it was more focused on good and wholistic study habits. I knew that my challenge would not be knowing the information, but rather how to make the most of my time to take the test and study. I learned some really important tips which I have retained since I took those exams (which I did pass the first go!)
I should also mention that I have a learning difference. I have a form of Dyslexia called a visual perception problem (if you have ever taken a yoga class with me, you know how sometimes I confuse left and right- not the greatest thing for a yoga teacher!) So for me I wanted to learn how to keep my mind sharp and aware and how to maximize my time so that I could double check my answers. What I found out is that the solution had everything to do with feeding my mind, giving it a rest, listening carefully to the scenarios I was presented with and trusting my gut.
It makes sense that if you want to be more productive and focused that you need to feed your brain and give it rest like the rest of your body. This has a greater effect on our emotional well being. A brain that is tired or over stimulated becomes an anxious brain. We wander into what if thoughts when we are pushing our mind too hard.
What if we just let go and trusted that with rest and nourishment out minds can take us much farther than if we insist they give us more?
When I work with teens I encourage them to trust they know the material. I am encountering many teenage girls these days who are very anxious about school work, I suggest to their parents that they help these girls cultivate a sense of trusting themselves and their ability to retain information. They are learning different meditations to stay calm, focused and in their bodies.
So here are my suggestions if you want to stay productive and creative in your work, your studies, your hobbies or even your daily conversations:
1) TAKE A BREAK! Know when to step away. If you are studying, trust that your brain has retained as much as it can and don't study the night before a test. Instead, get good sleep and find ways to relax. Studies have been done suggesting that we do not retain any more information in that last minute cram. So, instead let your brain rest.
2) CREATE A BETTER STUDY HABIT. Spinning off of tip number one, instead of procrastinating, really map out time to get your task done so you don’t have to save it for the last minute. I suggest adding an extra few hours to whatever project you have and that way you can be pleasantly surprised. I call this the “time budget” and learning this skill is very important for success.
3) NOURISH your brain. When I was studying for my licensure exams my coach told me to take nourishing foods for my brain. This included fruit juice, fruit and protein. Make sure you eat these things during or before a big think session. Feeding not just your body but your brain will help you target maximum productivity out of your mind. I took these things with me the day of my exam and I did great!
4) GET UP AND MOVE get your blood flowing and maybe get upside down. Reverse the flow of oxygen to your brain! Your brain needs oxygen too!
5) STEP AWAY if you are caught in a creative rut. Then give your mind a new perspective. Perhaps it needs inspiration; take a walk in nature doing a moving meditation and see if that helps. My licensure exam was timed and I did need every second of it, but my coach stressed the importance of a small break. So I made sure I had a bathroom break and could walk around just for a few minutes.
6) GIVE YOUR MIND DIRECTION. As a yogi I teach others to find shortcuts to a pose. Alignments tips help us be the most efficient in a pose while also conserving energy. The same is true with your mind. Give your mind specific directions. If you are taking an exam, be clear on what the exam is testing. It may not be necessary to read every paragraph but rather to understand the key words. If you are doing something for work, understand what the purpose of that work is. If you are writing a song, give yourself questions which help you connect to the message of that song.
The take away here is that our mind has limits. It too needs a rest. Good work habits, nutritional foods, practices of rest and restore, will all help you realize your goals for productivity in your life. Work with your mind and care for it. As always…
From my heart to yours,